Date of reserved for orders : Date of pronouncement : Date of uploading : APHC010373542026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) [3460] THURSDAY, THE 23rd DAY OF JULY 2026 PRESENT THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE NYAPATHY VIJAY WRIT PETITION NO: 20222/2026 Between: 1. GANDI DHANALAKSHMI, W/O. SRINIVAS, AGED 45 YEARS, RIO. VEDURUPAKA, GOKAVARAM MANDAL, EAST GODAVARI DISTRICT. ...PETITIONER AND 1. THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, REP. BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, WOMEN DEVELOPMENT AND CHILD WELFARE DEPARTMENT, SECRETARIAT, VELAGAPUDI, AMARAVATI, GUNTUR DISTRICT. A.P. 522238 2. THE COMMISSIONER AND DIRECTOR, WOMEN DEVELOPMENT AND CHILD WELFARE DEPARTMENT, JAMPANI TOWERS, AMARAVATHI RD, OPP. NARAYANA SCHOOL, BHARATHPET, POTTI SRI RAMULU NAGAR, POSTAL COLONY, GUNTUR, ANDHRA PRADESH 522002 2 3. THE DISTRICT COLLECTOR, KAKINADA, EAST GODAVARI DISTRICT. 533001 4. THE PROJECT DIRECTOR, WOMEN DEVELOPMENT AND CHILD WELFARE DEPARTMENT, KAKINADA, EAST GODAVARI DISTRICT. 533001 5. THE CHILD DEVELOPMENT PROJECT OFFICER, KORUKONDA PROJECT, EAST GODAVARI DISTRICT, KAKINADA, EAST GODAVARI DISTRICT. 533289 ...RESPONDENT(S): Petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying that in the circumstances stated in the affidavit filed therewith, the High Court may be pleased toPleased to issue a Writ, Order or Direction more particularly one in the nature of Writ of Mandamus declaring the action of the respondents in attempting to discontinue/disturb the services of the petitioner as Anganwadi Worker/Helper without considering the petitioner's long continuous service and without considering her case for continuation/absorption/preferential appointment by extending the benefit of weightage for long service in terms of Government guidelines and departmental proceedings as illegal, arbitrary and violative of Articles 14 and 16 of the Constitution of India and consequently direct the respondents to continue the petitioner in service and consider her case for continuation/absorption/preferential appointment in accordance with law and pass such other order or orders as this Hon'ble Court may deem fit and proper in the circumstances of the case. and to pass IA NO: 1 OF 2026 Petition under Section 151 CPC praying that in the circumstances stated in the affidavit filed in support of the petition, the High Court may be pleased pleased to direct the respondents not to discontinue, replace, disturb or interfere with the petitioner's functioning as Anganwadi Worker/Helper by 3 permit the petitioner to continue in service with all attendant benefits pending disposal of the writ petition and pass Counsel for the Petitioner: 1. VAMSI KRISHNA VARANASI Counsel for the Respondent(S): 1. GP FOR SERVICES II The Court made the following: Whether the order is : Speaking Yes/No / Reasoned Yes/No Reportable Yes/No / Non-Reportable Yes/No 4 HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE NYAPATHY VIJAY W.P.No.20222 of 2026 O R DE R: This writ petition is filed declaring the action of the Respondents in attempting to discontinue/disturb the services of the Petitioner as Anganwadi worker/helper without considering the Petitioner's service as illegal and arbitrary. 2. Petitioner was appointed as Anganwadi worker pursuant to selection process conducted in the year 2013-14 in view of non- availability of candidates from reserved category. Though the appointment was initially considered as temporary, the Petitioner has been discharging duties for more than a decade. Subsequently, the persons similarly engaged as Petitioners were sought to be discontinued as fresh selections were sought to be undertaken by the department. Aggrieved thereby, the persons similarly situated as Petitioner had approached this Court by filing W.P.No.30731 of 2014 and batch, and a common order was passed therein to continue the Petitioners till completion of selection process and appointment of reserved category candidates. 5 3. Thereafter, the Government issued a memo dated 04.12.2020 instructing the authorities concerned not to notify the posts in which Anganwadi worker's/ helpers are presently working till further orders. To the knowledge of the Petitioner, no Government order is issued modifying the memo dated 04.12.2020. While so, the Respondents again are seeking to disturb the Petitioner from the discharging her duties as Anganwadi worker/helper at Vedurupaka, Gokavaram Mandal, East Godavari District. 4. Learned Assistant Government Pleader, on instructions, submits that the Petitioner is not being disturbed from the present place of work and no action would be taken against the Petitioner without putting the Petitioner on notice. 5. In the light of the same, the writ petition is disposed of directing the Respondents not to discontinue/ disturb the services of the Petitioner as Anganwadi worker/helper at Vedurupaka, Gokavaram Mandal, East Godavari District, except in accordance with the law. No order as to costs. 6 As a sequel, the miscellaneous petitions if any shall stand dismissed. ___________________ NYAPATHY VIJAY, J Date: 23.07.2026 KLP